Vent Fields
Welcome to the InterRidge Global Database of Active Submarine Hydrothermal Vent Fields (the “InterRidge Vents Database”).
To sort the list of Vent Fields, click on a column header.
To view details for a specific Vent Field, click on the Name ID.
To view the subset of Vent Fields that contain a specific category, click on the category (for example, "active, confirmed" in the "Activity" column).
| Vent Field Name ID | Activity |
Tectonic Setting |
Region | Latitude | Longitude | Maximum or Single Reported Depth | Year and How Discovered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPR, northern 17 N segment | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 17.6700 | -105.0050 | 2800 | 1997 plume only |
| Gorda Ridge, EP96A | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Gorda Ridge | 42.6790 | -126.7820 | 3150 | 1996 camera/temperature tow followed by ROV did not confirm hydrothermal activity |
| GEISEIR site 8, segment K3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.8833 | 81.9816 | 2800 | 2010 plume only |
| MAR, 24 20'N | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 24.3500 | -46.2000 | 3200 | NotProvided |
| EPR, 11 30'N | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 11.4833 | -103.7833 | 2422 | 1981 towed camera and plume did not confirm activity; 1988 submersible Alvin dive #1996 (need reference to confirm activity) |
| EPR, 2 S, off-axis | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -2.0840 | -102.8270 | 3000 | 2008 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 27, segment M5 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -43.9805 | 93.4571 | 2700 | 2009 plume only |
| Aegir | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Mohns Ridge | 72.3440 | 1.5550 | 2600 | 2015 ROV Ægir 6000; 2013 plume only; 2015 AUV |
| Eyjafjördur | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Kolbeinsey Ridge | 65.8500 | -18.1333 | 65 | 1997, likely by SCUBA |
| ET | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | JdF Ridge | 48.1993 | -128.9257 | 2500 | NotProvided |
| GEISEIR site 20, segment L3 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.9508 | 87.8008 | 2400 | 2010 plume only |
| Menez Hom | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N MAR | 37.1500 | -32.4333 | 1802 | 2002 ROV Victor 6000 |
| MAR, 19 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S MAR | -19.3301 | -11.9421 | 2707 | 2013 plume only |
| SWIR, 51.7 E | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -37.4660 | 51.7320 | 1595 | 2008 plume and dredge only |
| EPR, 15 S | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -15.0000 | -112.7700 | 2640 | 1985/86 or 1989 TV grab (need to check references to confirm activity); 1993 plume only |
| Steinaholl Vent Field | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Reykjanes Ridge | 63.1000 | -24.5333 | 350 | 1990 plume, echosounding, and towed video; 1993 plume only (included echosounding for more precise location) |
| DSDP Hole 504B | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 1.2267 | -83.7300 | 3500 | NotProvided |
| AAR KR1, Mujin | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -62.1000 | 158.8000 | 2100 | 2011 plume and biological samples |
| Precious Stone Mountain | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 1.2200 | -101.4900 | 1700 | 2009 deep-tow video and TV grab |
| EPR 87D1 Seamount | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 11.5333 | -103.8600 | 2090 | NotProvided |
| GEISEIR site 38, segment O4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -48.0048 | 98.8232 | 2800 | 2009 plume only |
| Gakkel Ridge, 85 E | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Gakkel Ridge | 85.6500 | 84.8333 | 3900 | 2001 plume only; 2007 towed video did not confirm activity |
| EPR, 28.4 S, Segment W4 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | S EPR | -28.4170 | -112.9640 | 2350 | 1998 plume only |
| GEISEIR site 5, segment K1 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SEIR | -41.2420 | 81.1580 | 2860 | 1996 plume only; 2007 plume only |
| SWIR, Plume 1, Segment 17 | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | SWIR | -31.1830 | 58.5000 | 3600 | 1997 plume only |
| Aurora | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Gakkel Ridge | 82.8833 | -6.2500 | 4100 | 2001 shimmering water in camera tow and sulfide chimney in dredge |
| EPR, 8 38'N | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | N EPR | 8.6333 | -104.2000 | 2550 | 2003 submersible Alvin; 1989 dredge only; 2002 plume only |
| Galapagos Rift, 85 50'W | inactive | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 0.7500 | -85.8333 | 2600 | 1988 or earlier submersible observations |
| W Los Huellos Caldera | active, inferred | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 1.0000 | -90.6000 | 1600 | 2005 plume only |
| Tempus Fugit | active, confirmed | mid-ocean ridge | Galapagos Rift | 0.7683 | -85.9100 | 2560 | 2011 ROV Little Hercules |